Our Recuperation Days - 1: Ak I-yeon's Collapse
Ak I-yeon had collapsed. The beloved young lady of the Ak Wang household, who had overcome the aftereffects of qi deviation and risen once more, had fallen again. It was only natural that the atmosphere in the Ak Wang Residence turned as somber as a house in mourning.
"There's no problem with her body. The worries she'd been suppressing all this time burst out at once, and her mind cried out in exhaustion."
The silver lining was that her fainting spell hadn't affected her qi meridians or dantian. And this came straight from Ak Wang himself—no room for doubt. A blessing amid misfortune.
Honestly, it was questionable whether calling a dead faint "fortunate," but it was still better than some grave physical damage.
"Hoo—"
Ak Wang gazed down at the soundly sleeping Ak I-yeon and let out a deep sigh. That heavy sound stabbed at my conscience, making me flinch.
Ak Wang was the textbook definition of a doting grandfather. For him to witness his precious granddaughter collapse right before his eyes—his world must have turned upside down.
"My apologies, Your Highness."
Before his shouting could erupt, I bowed my head and begged forgiveness. As her fiancé, I hadn't made her happy—instead, I'd filled her days with worry. I owed him an apology, whether he was Ak Wang or some rural commoner.
"Enough. Neither you nor I have done well by her."
But Ak Wang just shook his head bitterly at my apology. An unexpected response. I'd braced for him to grab me by the collar and shake me, demanding why I'd done something so inexcusable. Instead, he admitted his own fault.
"Yeon-i was always overjoyed reading the letters you sent. But of course she'd notice if the handwriting or phrasing changed. I must have been treating her like a mere child."
Ak Wang sighed again, gently caressing her cheek.
"What an absurd situation. The grandson-in-law raises his fiancée back to her feet, only for this grandfather to contribute to knocking her down again."
"How can you say that, Your Highness? I-yeon collapsing is mostly my fault. You merely wrote those letters in my place out of consideration for her."
His words carried a faint undercurrent of self-reproach, so I shook my head vigorously. It was true that the unfamiliar handwriting had amplified her worries. But the letters piling up for ten days, forcing me to send ones in a different hand—they were my doing. Blaming Ak Wang for this was far too harsh.
"You may have started it, but I made it worse. Good intentions don't rewrite bad outcomes."
Even my consolation failed to brighten his expression.
"I'll have another bed brought into this room. You rest here too, and greet Yeon-i the moment she wakes, right by her side."
With that, he gave my shoulder a small pat and left the room. I could only watch his slumped shoulders in silence. If he'd unleashed his anger, both of us might have felt some relief.
Soon after Ak Wang departed, another bed was brought into Ak I-yeon's room. Two beds side by side created a peculiar sight, but this was the chamber of the Ak household's forbidden treasure. One extra bed was no different from adding another chair.
- Shiiik, shiiik?
- Sieeek!
- Shiuuuk!
Just as I was about to lie down on the new bed, as Ak Wang had suggested, Samshik—who had been coiled beside Ak I-yeon's face—tilted his head and let out cries.
"Samshik. Don't disturb the sleeping girl. Come here."
It felt wrong to risk waking her, so I beckoned him. Of course, I wanted her to wake sooner, but her stirring on her own was worlds apart from noise jolting her awake. Forcing it would leave her body and mind still weary.
- Shiiiik!
But even as I reached out, Samshik stayed glued to her side.
What's gotten into him?
This was baffling. Samshik occasionally went wild for food, but he always listened to me. No—he was shy by nature, avoiding contact with anyone but me. For him to stick near someone else, even asleep?
No way.
A fleeting unease crossed my mind. What if her dantian was leaking qi again, and the spirit beast Samshik was reacting to it, guarding her?
That can't be.
It was pure paranoia. Ak Wang had personally confirmed no issues with her dantian or meridians. He wouldn't have examined her carelessly—her condition was fine.
That realization only muddled my thoughts further. If not qi, then why was Samshik—
- Shiiik!
Huh?
Suddenly, Samshik burrowed into Ak I-yeon's bosom.
"Hey, you—"
I nearly yelled out of instinct but held back. My shout might wake her.
- Shiiiik!
Moments later, Samshik emerged from her bosom with a small pouch in his mouth. It looked like he was itching for a flick on the forehead, but I restrained myself. If a shy guy like him was acting this bold, there had to be a reason.
"Herbs?"
- Shiiik!
The pouch was stuffed with what seemed like medicinal herbs. Or, given Samshik's reaction, poisonous ones? Poisons could be medicines depending on use, after all.
Why would she have these?
Herbs or poisons, they didn't suit Ak I-yeon. She wasn't some wandering warrior prepping for emergencies—physicians swarmed at the slightest injury, given her status.
I stared at the herbs—or poisons—for a long while before handing the pouch back to Samshik.
- Shiiik! Shiiik!
- Sieeek!
- Shiuuuk!
"You can't just eat other people's things. Put it back where it was."
- Shiiiik...
Samshik, who'd perked up thinking it was for him, slunk back into her bosom dejectedly. I wasn't starving him—why was he so obsessed with food?
I opened my eyes to the familiar ceiling.
Ah.
Just before closing them, the last scenes flashed through my mind: Gaga's back carrying me. Kki-ing-i's majestic, massive horns—broken. The sky I saw as my body tipped backward.
So that's it. I'd gone beyond collapsing—I'd fainted outright. Waking in my room instead of the front gate confirmed it.
Where's Gaga?
The realization spurred me upright. I couldn't stay here. Gaga was the one hurt, the one in real pain—and I'd collapsed before I could even comfort him. I should greet him with a bright smile, not laze in bed waiting to receive him.
Impossible. As his fiancée, if I couldn't share his pain, I had to at least help him recover. I couldn't be the one receiving his worry and consolation. I'd already received more grace from him than I could repay in a lifetime.
"Huh?"
As I hastily sat up, an unexpected sight met my eyes. A new bed pressed right against mine. Gaga sleeping atop it. Two animals snoozing on his stomach.
- Buo?
The long-nosed one stirred at my voice, blinking curiously at me—as if wondering who I was. No... this is my room... who are you?
"...Hello?"
- Buooo~
My awkward greeting earned a soft trunk-wag and gentle cry from the long-nosed baby. So adorable, a smile crept onto my face unbidden. And with Gaga sleeping so peacefully, the anxiety and tension melted away.
"Are you the mak?"
- Buooo!
Finally relaxing, I poked its trunk. Come to think of it, one of Gaga's letters mentioned traveling with a baby mak. This must be it.
"Don't stay on Gaga—come to me. We can't disturb someone sleeping."
- Buo?
The mak blinked but obediently snuggled into my arms. Still small, but with surprising heft. It must have made Gaga's sleep uncomfortable.
"Gaga..."
Before I knew it, my hand was stroking his face. I'd moved the mak to avoid disturbing him, yet here I was bothering him myself. Embarrassing, but unavoidable. I'd missed him so much. Worried about him endlessly. With him right there, within arm's reach, a little indulgence was inevitable.
Yes. Perfectly natural. As his fiancée, this was well within bounds.
Within bounds?
I stared at his closed-eyed face. Since he took the official path, chances to see him dwindled—and his sleeping face? Nonexistent. Yet here he was, beside me. Couldn't I indulge just a tiny bit?
A little.
Yes, just a little. A tiny bit. Taking a small price for the worry he'd caused me.
Okay.
A soft breath, then I leaned slowly toward his face. His lips—no, his cheek. Lips were still too embarrassing.
The moment Ak I-yeon's voice rang out and the baby mak's weight lifted from my stomach, the sudden shift jolted me awake. But I didn't open my eyes right away. I needed to sort out my apology first.
Right now, I was the arch-criminal who'd made her collapse. And that judgment was spot on.
What the—
A warm sensation touched my cheek. One I knew without words. Softer than anything.
"Ahem, ahem!"
An awkward cough followed, but I kept my eyes shut. Opening them now might make her faint for a whole different reason.